Spirit of Yorkshire PX Sherry cask, 59.9% ABV

Single cask #680

RESPECTING TRADITION, OUR OWN WAY.

 For us it’s about doing things properly. That’s why we’re obsessed with every step of the distilling process, from grain to glass. Mentored by renowned whisky expert Dr. Jim Swan, our instinctive approach is to create a whisky that doesn’t just replicate Scotch. That doesn’t mean we rely on blind luck – we take the best of tradition and apply new thinking to create something unique.

Spirit of Yorkshire Whisky

This whisky was tasted as part of our Whiskey Chaps Blind tasting #7, with @WhiskyWizard31 from the Amateur Dram Addicts.

Appearance

Burnished copper/chestnut in colour, it beads up on the swirl line, has quite a thick swirl line too, and has syrupy thick legs, it’s so viscous.

Nose

Initially on the nose i get bananas and strawberries, and then it changes quite quickly to cherries and plums, it’s sweet for a few seconds and is then followed by darker notes that are the strongest aromas.

With more time we have a dusty note, toasted bread and tea cakes with raisins in. Cola cubes, dates and cloves offer lovely stewed dark fruits that lead onto tobacco leaves, mocha coffee, a slightly menthol note, and there are definitely nuts here too. There is a waft of wood vanish and something vegetal.

Palate

First off is a super syrupy mouthfeel, it’s so creamy, and we’re instantly into spices, with stoned fruits, apricots, plums and nectarines in the background.

Mocha, star anise, coffee beans, cask char and cracked black peppercorns bring some real bite with the spiciness. Hot ginger and cinnamon come along for the ride with some tannins and a slight dryness too.

Heavily toasted rye bread and a dandelion and burdock fizzy drink flavour finish off the spiciness, and the stoned fruits reemerge, though more subdued than previously, and mix with the spices to produce a lovely end to the bulk of the palate.

Finish

Fruit cake for me, Irish whiskey loaf kind of stuff, and I’m getting brown sugar, caramel and golden syrup too. And again like the palate the darker heavier flavours start take over.

Black treacle and liquorice, oak with some tannins, and some grapefruit bitterness and pontefract cakes wrap up this very spicy and quite long finish.

My thoughts

What a cracker of a dram this is. I have tasted a few different whiskies from the Spirit of Yorkshire distillery, and i particularly enjoyed the Yorkshire day 2020 bottling, but this bottle brings so much more spice with it, and thankfully for me no sulphur, a great example of the quality the Spirit of Yorkshire distillery strive to create.

I’d say this bottle is for the more experienced whisky drinker, the sheer volume and boldness of the aromas and flavours in it could easily overwhelm someone who’s new to whisky.

Would i buy a bottle?

Yes definitely, it’s a great example of what a good quality single PX sherry hogshead cask can bring to new make spirit, it’s super stuff indeed, i’d love to have a bottle.

Thanks to – @WhiskyWizard31.

Notes – This whisky is presented at natural cask strength, in its natural colour and is non chill filtered.